Late Game Heroes See Buffalo Sabers Defeat Anaheim Ducks in Exciting Overtime Contest

Friday night’s NHL game saw the Buffalo Sabres’ Jiri Kulich steal the game, scoring an eleventh-hour goal with just under a minute left in overtime. This saw the Sabers come back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Anaheim Ducks’ Winning Streak Snapped by Buffalo Sabres

Kulich’s crucial rebound shot, on Sabers defenseman Owen Power’s first attempt, found the top right corner of the net. It was Kulich’s second goal of the season, marking a pivotal moment that ended the Ducks’ three-game winning streak. Peyton Krebs and Jason Zucker, both in good form, also got their names on the score sheet for Buffalo, contributing to their second straight win and third in the last four games.

Power, who had two assists, and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who made 23 saves, played a big role in the Sabers’ win. In contrast, Drew Helleson and Isac Lundestrom were the main scorers for Anaheim, whose goalkeeper, John Gibson, managed to stop 31 shots.

Buffalo Sabers and Anaheim Ducks: Key Players and Moments

In camp for the Sabers, Tage Thompson, who leads the team with 11 goals and 18 points, missed his fourth game in a row due to a skin injury. However, coach Lindy Ruff is hopeful of Thompson’s return in their next game against San Jose on Saturday.

For the Ducks, Trevor Zegras has been on a roll, tallying three assists in the past two games. The turning point came when Krebs and Zucker scored twice in a 50-second span late in the second half, tying the game 2-2. This was the sixth time Buffalo scored two goals within a minute.

Zucker, who scored the tying goal with 33 seconds left, has scored in two straight games. Alex Tuch, who assisted Krebs’ goal, managed to register points in five consecutive games, including a goal and six assists.

Important Statistics and What’s Next?

Despite the win, Buffalo saw its seven-game power play streak end, the longest of any team this season. Next up, the Sabers will visit San Jose on Saturday, while the Ducks will host Seattle on Monday.